Costa Rica's Legislature Continues Plagued By Cucarachas

The Legislative Assembly building in downtown San José continues with is cucaracha (cockroach) problem, a problem that the Departamento de Servicios de Salud (Health Ministry) says is difficult to exterminate.

Last week the Assembly building was again sprayed.

Salud officials said on Thursday that although efforts were made to combat against the insects, experts say there is a type of cockroach (Macha or German) in the buildings that are very difficult to exterminate.

A press release by Salud, said that it is virtually impossible to eliminate completely the insects, given that the buildings are very old, and sometimes maintenance is not optimal.

The cockroach problem is compounded by the fact that officials consume food at their desks and/or leave food in the waste baskets that is left for days before it is removed by cleaning staff.

Salud officials say that the actions of the employees are contributing to the preservation and conservation of the species, recommending that if staff "corrects these little things mentioned, the situation will improve greatly".


The Cucaracha
The name cockroach comes from the Spanish word cucaracha, "chafer", "beetle", from cuca, "kind of caterpillar." The scientific name derives from the Latinized Greek name for the insect

Cockroaches are insects of the order Blattaria or Blattodea, of which about 30 species out of 4,500 total are associated with human habitations. About four species are well known as pests.

La Macha

The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is a small species of cockroach, measuring about 1.3 cm (0.51 in) to 1.6 cm (0.63 in) long; however, they are known to get bigger. It can be tan through brown to almost black, and has two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is unable to sustain flight. Found throughout many human settlements.

These insects are particularly associated with restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, and nursing homes. In colder climates, they are found only near human habitats, since they are not very tolerant to cold.

The German cockroach is originally from Africa. It is very closely related to the Asian cockroach, and to the casual observer they appear nearly identical and may be mistaken for the other.

This cockroach can be seen in the day occasionally, especially if there is a large population or if they have been disturbed. However, sightings are most commonly reported in the evening hours as they are most active at night. This type of cockroach can emit an unpleasant odor when excited or frightened.

The German cockroach is omnivorous and a scavenger. They particularly like starch, sugary foods, grease and meats. In certain situations where there is a shortage of foodstuffs, they may eat household items such as soap, glue and toothpaste or they may even turn cannibalistic, often chewing on the wings and legs of each other.